Schools Out! 7 Ideas To Keep Your Kids Busy This Summer

We have one more month of school until the kids are out for the summer and I’ve already begun making plans, scheduling trips and trying to figure out how I’m going to get all of my work done in between. The summer is one of the most hectic, insanely busy seasons for us as it happens to be peak season for our home business. Sadly, it tends to interfere with summer plans and activities as my husband and I are always working. In order to get through the next 4 months we usually have some sort of game plan in place.
Mom guilt sets in BIG TIME during the summer months as it is when I want to spend the most time with my kids and unfortunately don’t get to spend nearly enough time as I wish I could. The iPad and Netflix have helped some, but I don’t want my kids sitting in front of the TV day in and day out, so we look for more creative ways to spend their time. Here are 10 ways we’ll be keeping our kids busy this summer.

Day Trips – It’s so easy to forget about your own surroundings as we travel to and from various destinations. This summer, my kids and I will be discovering more of the local jaunts and hide-outs, planning picnics around our outings and experiencing more of Northern Ontario and the Midwest USA.

Watercolors – My kids love to paint, but the acrylic paints tend to get EVERYWHERE, which is why I prefer watercolors. Each child can tend to their own palette, eliminating any disagreements or fights that may occur.

Camping – We are lucky to have a large backyard, so camping outside happens regularly. I’ve also booked a couple of nights away at campgrounds across Ontario, so it will be fun to embrace nature and unplug a bit while camping with the kids.

BabbaBox – I recently learned about BabbaBox which is quite literally one of the most perfect summer boredom solutions. Geared towards kids from 3-6 years of age, these activity boxes are full of books, arts and crafts, puzzles activity cards and all the materials needed to complete 2 hands-on activities. There are three different options: Digital (printable and downloadable activities), BabbaBox (everything mentioned earlier) and the BabbaBox Premium (the BabbaBox plus 2 additional activities, a book and reading guide). You can save 10% on your order by visiting BabbaBox and using “SURVIVE”.

Beading – My girls are 4 and 6 1/2 so jewelry and anything that sparkles is high on their list of favorite things. We recently purchased a beading kit for them which they absolutely adore. Making jewelry for themselves and others is an activity that keeps them busy for an hour at a time.

Nail Painting – Speaking of girly things, Klutz has a great Nail Art book that comes with water-based nail paints. Kids can try their hand at making fun nail designs (stripes, polka dots, squiggles) or creatures (ladybugs, dogs, cats, etc) and you don’t have to worry about any fumes or stains. It washes right out!

Hand them the camera – You’d be surprised at what a child can capture with a camera. They have a completely different perspective on things and their height makes for interesting shots. We purchased the Nikon COOLPIX S30 as it gives us peace of mind while the little ones click away (waterproof and shockproof).

A mom to two girls and a baby boy, a writer and the publisher of Child Mode. As a lover of style and fashion, Nadia found her ‘niche’ and love of children’s clothing while searching for quality items for her family.